HAVING missed the victory over France with a shoulder injury, Sam Warburton will have his work cut out to make the starting line-up in Rome.

Justin Tipuric didn't disappoint a Welsh public that had been clamouring for his inclusion. He was consistently first to the breakdown, where he was a real pest, and he was also the main source of lineout ball and topped the tackle count, while fellow flanker Ryan Jones was simply immense, leading by example as captain and getting through an extraordinary amount of work.

Coach Howley faces a huge selection dilemma.

3. FRANCE HAVE GOT BIG PROBLEMS

AFTER watching their first two championship matches, it's hard to believe they put 33 points on Australia in November.

Having gone into the Six Nations as tournament favourites, they are in real danger of ending up with the wooden spoon.

Much of the blame rests with coach Philippe Saint-Andre, who has got his selection badly wrong, leaving the outstanding Morgan Parra on the bench and wasting star centre Wesley Fofana on the wing.

Handing Freddie Michalak the No 10 jersey has also proved a disaster. He had a calamitous game against Wales. His decision-making was shocking and so was his execution.

But who's complaining!

4. ANDREW COOMBS IS THE REAL DEAL.

SO now we know last week was no fluke. The 28-year-old Dragon has been a complete revelation.

Bringing a back-rower's appetite and work ethic to the second row, he has brought a new dimension to Wales' forward play, with his carrying and tackling.

His hit on Mathieu Bastareaud shortly before half-time was crucial, as he hauled the giant centre down just as he threatened to plough to the line.

So much for Wales' second row crisis, with Coombs having forged a fine partnership with Ian Evans, who also had an outstanding game in Paris.

5 WALES' DEFENSIVE SYSTEM STILL WORKS

THERE were doubts raised over the effectiveness of Wales' blitz-based defence in the wake of the defeat to Ireland.

Had teams worked them out? Was a rethink required?

Shaun Edwards said no. He insisted there was nothing wrong with the system. It was just a case of implementing it at the right time.

Well, Edwards will be a happy man today, with Wales having returned to their old mean ways, denying France a try for the third time in a row.

The likes of Tipuric, Coombs, Mike Phillips, Jamie Roberts and Leigh Halfpenny were huge in defence, but to a man Wales put their bodies on the line and proved their defence coach right.

Highlights: France 6-16 Wales - relive the glory of Paris

Next page: Italian failings, classy Farrell and a pitch worse than the Millennium Stadium

6. GETTING GETHIN ANGRY IS A GOOD IDEA.

BEFORE turning into the Incredible Hulk, Dr David Banner always used to issue the same warning: “Don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry.”

While there wasn't much to like about Banner's green alter-ego, there is plenty to like about the angry Gethin Jenkins.

The Lions prop was positively seething in the build-up to Saturday's game, having been stung by the calls for him to be dropped from the Wales team.

He proceeded to take out his fury on the French, producing a tremendous performance.

Back to his best, he was massive in defence and like an extra flanker at the breakdown, where he won the kind of turnovers that should really see him drummed out of the prop's union!

7. SHOCK OF SHOCKS, SCOTLAND HAVE GOT A BACK DIVISION!

FOR years, it's been the same old story with Scotland. Nice pack, shame about the backs.

They have consistently struggled to put anything together behind the scrum, with some of their efforts being embarrassingly ham-fisted, while tries have been an endangered species.

But, almost overnight, they are a team transformed. In their opening two championship matches, they have scored six tries and each through their backs.

On Saturday against Italy, they scored four tries in a Six Nations for the first time in 10 years, with Stuart Hogg, Tim Visser and Sean Maitland proving a potent back three and Matt Scott a real find in the centre. All you can say is hats off to Scott Johnson.

8: ITALY ARE FAR FROM THE FINISHED ARTICLE.

WE perhaps got a bit carried away with their victory over France, amid talk that this would be their breakthrough season, the year they would claim three wins for the first time.

The truth is Italy may be a growing force on home soil, but they don't win many games on the road and the away day blues continued for them in Edinburgh on Saturday,

They had plenty of ball, but failed to make the most of it, with fly-half Luciano Orquera coming back down to earth with a bump. As good as he was against France, so he was equally poor against

Scotland, with the 14-pointer interception try he handed to Stuart Hogg summing up his afternoon.

But before we get too carried away again, they are a different animal in Rome and that's where Wales must head in two weeks time.

9: OWEN FARRELL IS IN POLE POSITION FOR THE LIONS NUMBER 10 JERSEY

THE young England fly-half turned in another assured – and more importantly another match-winning – performance against Ireland in Dublin yesterday.

Jonny Sexton, who left the field injured, may have started the head-to-head as many people’s Lions No10 in waiting, but by full-time Farrell was the name on everyone’s lips again.

He kicked his goals and directed his side superbly in terrible conditions.

A display that belied his age and experience.

10: THERE IS A WORSE PITCH THAN THE MILLENNIUM

HOW could you fail to notice how the Stade de France surface cut up at every scrum?

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